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The Importance of Being Earnest

Jeremy Kingston at Greenwich Theatre

April 2 2005, 1:00am, The Times

ROBIN HERFORD’S production of this wonderful play originated in Singapore so there seemed every chance that he might be giving it a Southeast Asian gloss. But programme notes reveal that British Theatre Playhouse (Singapore), the initial producing company, has been mounting plays for a dozen years or so and, I suspect, that the casts are always British.

Greenwich Theatre co-produces this brief revival (till April 9), which takes a straightforward view of the work. Lady Bracknell is played by Ursula Jones, but her performance is, in truth, somewhat too lightweight. There is no reason why the character should move about the stage like a stately galleon, breathing fire from all cannons, but Jones more resembles a jaunty yacht, swiftly darting hither and yon.